Attendee Guidelines

A forum is a “medium of open discussion or voicing of ideas; a public meeting or presentation involving a discussion usually among experts and often including audience participation”.  The Direct Response Forum strives to deliver that experience; a dialog of ideas and information shared among card not present payment operations professionals which can influence the direction of industry regulations, protocol and best practices.

Forum participants represent key industry constituents including merchant, acquirer, card network, and service provider companies who suspend competitive relationships to create a neutral environment for this Forum.   Payment operations professionals from every corner of our industry bring their talent, skill and experience to the presentations, panel discussions, and participant dialog that form the foundation of our educational sessions.

Professional conduct and confidentiality is expected from all participants invited to share in the Forum experience.  Collectively, we protect all existing customer relationships from competitive solicitation or interference for all our attendees. The Forum is not meant to be a venue for selling products or services to merchant attendees or soliciting new customers.  However, that does not exclude presenters from explaining technology in session presentations that will assist merchants in exploring new technology and industry innovations for improving their CNP payment operations.

Individuals attending the Forum include the following:

Merchants

Merchant attendees must be employed by a merchant company that conducts business directly with consumers in a card not present environment.  Merchants have no restrictions on the number of attendees allowed.

Non-Merchants

Non-Merchant attendees must be employed by a company that supports the CNP payment industry such as Acquirers, Processors, Card Networks, Alternative Payment Providers, Service Providers, and Consultants.  The DRF is not a place for sales, marketing, or business development professionals, since sales or promotion is not a part of the Forum,

Non-Merchant attendees and their companies participate at the discretion of the DRF Board of Directors who reserves the right to limit or refuse attendees. Non-Merchants must provide evidence that they are doing business with at least one DRF merchant who is in attendance at the Forum or the attendee must be invited by the board to speak at the event.

The DRF Merchant Board of Directors invites select card network, acquirer, and service provider organizations who represent a significant sector of the CNP payments industry to participate as DRF Board Advisors. This invitation requires a representation of a minimum number of merchant customers at consecutive annual Forums and an annual association sponsorship fee to cover administrative costs of the DRF. There are no Forum sponsorships offered.

Media or press of any kind is not permitted at the Forum. Presentations, conference materials and the content of conversations are not to be shared, reproduced or distributed under any circumstances.

We hope these guidelines help all our attendees enjoy a successful Forum and positive feedback and visibility during this year’s event. If you should have any questions or concerns, any member of our Board of Directors would be happy to assist you.